5 Shocking things that could happen on the first RAW of 2019

This week's episode of WWE RAW is bound to be eventful with four returns set to take place. Universal Champion Brock Lesnar is returning to WWE TV for the first time since his Survivor Series win over Daniel Bryan. The 16-time world champion John Cena is set for a one-off appearance at RAW as well.

Hulk Hogan returns after a long hiatus from WWE's weekly TV and Braun Strowman makes a come back after his elbow injury with an update on his match with Brock Lesnar. Also, Alexa Bliss is coming up with a new segment called "A Moment of Bliss" and the first superstar to feature in the segment is RAW's Women's Champion Ronda Rousey.

What would RAW have in store for us? Could the new regime bring a change and present us with some shocking segments? All we could do at this point is speculate so let's start with the shocks surrounding the top prize at RAW.

---

#5 Braun Strowman not being clear for the title match at Royal Rumble

While there's no confirmation on the extent of recovery of Strowman's elbow but an appearance on the show is a sign that there's no issue with his arm.

But Strowman being one of the top talents on RAW, WWE would be looking to protect him from getting injured again. A bout with Brock Lesnar would be heavy on destruction and that means chances of another injury would be higher.

Even if Strowman has recovered, WWE could kayfabe reject to clear him for the match. This would ensure his full recovery and would give him a tailor-made storyline to enter the title picture again.

Strowman would be making an appearance on RAW this week, all he would have to say is that the medical staff hasn't cleared him and he would be forbidden to take part in the match leaving Lesnar without an opponent at Royal Rumble.

#4 EC3 answers John Cena's challenge

#DailyPic : can't wait to see returns @JohnCena on #RAW What happen Cena Match tonight!#NeverGiveUp #UStopMe 👌👌👌#raw pic.twitter.com/po0e5hVmsd

— §hahril Iman (@shahrilmuhamad9) January 7, 2019

John Cena made his return to SmackDown last week and while breaking the fourth wall, he cut a promo stating that he knows that somebody is going to interrupt him in order to make a name for themselves. At Smackdown, it was Becky Lynch who stepped up, RAW gets to push one of theirs too this week.

While there are a plethora of talents already on the roster who could use the rub, a debudant like EC3 would be the best option to share the spotlight with John Cena. EC3 upstaging John Cena would provide him with the initial rub that he would need in cementing his place on the main roster.

Also, six superstars are set to debut and bringing all of them up, in the same way, might make storylines repetitive and debuting EC3 this week would set him apart and give him an additional rub from John Cena.

#3 Bobby Lashley / Apollo Crews attacks Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan returns to RAW this week

Hulk Hogan is a legend in the wrestling business and was the face of WWF/E during the Golden Era. He is a superstar that single-handedly elevated Scott Hall and Kevin Nash (who were already main event level superstars) to become untouchable in the nWo with his heel turn. The group changed the course for WCW for the period that saw the company ahead of WWE in the Monday Night Wars.

Hulk Hogan has been in the news for a better part of the last few years, that too, for all the wrong reasons. There have been reports that a few superstars are still unhappy about his association with WWE because of the racist comments that Hogan said.

Usually, WWE would stay away from indulging in a controversial angle but the looming competition and downfall in ratings might force WWE to try a few storylines to gain attention. Bobby Lashley or Apollo Crews would be the best possible superstars to move forward with the segment. As it would be a one-off appearance from Hogan, one of them could confront and attack him.

Lashley is a more believable superstar to take on Hogan but he is currently a heel which gives Crews an opportunity to step up to the stage.

#2 Seth Rollins enters the Universal title picture

As speculated in the first slide, WWE might be reluctant to give a returning Strowman a match against Brock Lesnar and rumors are doing the rounds that Seth Rollins would be taking the title off Lesnar. So instead of handing Strowman another loss against Lesnar, it would be a much better option to use his elbow injury as an excuse to move away from the match.

WWE is also shelling out money to bring in Kenny Omega under their banner, and if he indeed joins in, then he is sure to be placed in the top title picture, most probably at RAW because of the low ratings. This halts the plans for Seth Rollins at Wrestlemania.

Considering the new regime goes by what the WWE Universe wants, the title must be taken off Lesnar as soon as possible. WWE just has to prepone their plans of Rollins vs Lesnar to Royal Rumble.

#1 Sasha and/or Bailey go up against Ronda Rousey

This Monday Night History will be made as @AlexaBliss_WWE becomes the first Woman ever to Host a #TalkShow with #AMomentOfBliss with the inaugural guest the #RAWWomensChampion @RondaRousey #RAW pic.twitter.com/bBe4e9QtF4

— Roberto (@roberto738) January 5, 2019

Alexa Bliss announced her new talk show "A Moment of Bliss" and her first guest is going to be the RAW women's champion, Ronda Rousey. Generally, these segments are used to start a new feud, mainly for the host but given the unclear status of Alexa's return to the ring, Bliss can use the segment to set a new rival for the champion.

Alexa coming back to the ring would be a great moment but it's improbable, she could even bring up Lacey Evans for a one-off match against Ronda Rousey but it wouldn't be a Big 4 PPV worthy match.

Moreover, Rousey has already defeated all the heels present on the roster. So, Bailey and/or Sasha are the only options left apart from Ember Moon, which isn't particularly an exciting matchup. It also plays up with the idea of Ronda Rousey having problems with all members of the WWE's Four Horsewomen leading to a future dream contest between WWE's Four Horsewomen and UFC's Four Horsewomen.